Lexington Reservoir
| Lexington Reservoir | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Location |
Santa Cruz Mountains Santa Clara County, California |
| Coordinates | 37°12′07″N 121°59′24″W / 37.202°N 121.99°WCoordinates: 37°12′07″N 121°59′24″W / 37.202°N 121.99°W |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Los Gatos Creek |
| Primary outflows | Los Gatos Creek |
| Catchment area | 27.7 sq mi (72 km2) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 450 acres (1.8 km2) |
| Water volume | 21,430 acre·ft (26,430,000 m3) |
| Surface elevation | 666 ft (203 m) |
| References | U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Lexington Reservoir |
Lexington Reservoir is an artificial lake on the Los Gatos Creek near Los Gatos, California. The James J. Lenihan Dam, a 195 ft (59 m) high, 1,000 ft (300 m) thick earthen dam, forms the third-largest reservoir in Santa Clara County.
The reservoir is in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains, at an elevation of 645 feet (197 m).
State Route 17 runs alongside the dam's western edge and over part of the reservoir. Alma Bridge Road (Limekiln Canyon Road) runs around the eastern side, connecting with 17 at the north end and again at the south end via other surface streets.
The reservoir is contained in Lexington Reservoir County Park, which includes hiking trails in the hills with good views of the reservoir and of Silicon Valley. The Los Gatos Creek Trail starts at the dam and continues downstream along the creek's canyon.
It is part of the Santa Clara Valley Water District and provides water for Silicon Valley.
In October 2007, the Santa Clara Valley Water District began a construction project to replace the old 48-inch (1,200 mm) outlet pipe that runs through the base of the dam from the reservoir to Los Gatos Creek. The current outlet pipe will be replaced with a 54-inch (1,400 mm)-diameter pipe, new valves, outlet structures and a control building.
The repairs are being made to allow the reservoir to drain quickly enough during emergencies such as after a major earthquake that could cause cracks in the dam, or during a series of heavy winter storms that pose flooding risks to Los Gatos and Campbell.
In 1943, because of the rapid expansion of orchards in the county, the Santa Clara Valley Water District determined that the well water in the Santa Clara Valley was being diminished rapidly and a dam was needed on Los Gatos Creek, with one goal being to percolate the water into the ground and ultimately increase the amount of well water available. After rerouting State Route 17 near Windy Point, which is a mile south of Los Gatos, the District began dam construction in the spring of 1952, completing it that fall.
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